Call for proposal – Consultant To Develop Training Material
Purpose of the assignment
The Palme Center seeks to engage a consultant/consulting team to develop a complete training package based on two existing handbooks in the series “How to run and represent a political party”:
Module 1: Formation and Structure – Ideological base, party constitution and organisational structure
Module 5: Growing and Consolidating – Organising, recruitment and training
The overall purpose is to transform the key content of these handbooks into practical, participatory training sessions that can be used with our sister parties and partners around the world. Each training should be designed to run for approximately 3 hours and support participants in applying the content to their own party organisation and context.
Background
Olof Palme International Center (Palme Center) is the Swedish labour movement’s organisation for international solidarity and development cooperation. Together with over 160 partner organisations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the MENA region, we promote democracy, human rights, peace, equality, workers’ rights and a just transition. Our work is rooted in partnership, popular education and the strengthening of civil society and progressive political parties as drivers of social change.
Within this work, the Palme Center has developed a set of six handbooks under the umbrella “How to run and represent a political party”, used to train sister parties globally in organisational development, internal democracy and effective political action. Two of these handbooks – Module 1: Formation and Structure and Module 5: Growing and Consolidating – are now to be converted into concrete training packages, including session plans and facilitation materials.
The consultant/consulting team will develop training material for one or both modules listed above. For each module selected, the consultant will:
Design a training concept and session outline
A clear learning objective and target group description.
A 3-hour session plan including timings, steps and methods.
Suggestions on how the session can be adapted to different political and regional contexts.
Develop a PowerPoint presentation
Slide deck that covers the key concepts and messages from the handbook.
Visuals, diagrams and examples that make the content accessible and engaging.
Space for contextual examples to be added by local facilitators.
Produce facilitator’s notes / script (bullet-point based)
Speaker notes or bullet points for each session segment and key slide.
Guidance on how to introduce topics, ask questions and facilitate discussions.
Tips for managing group dynamics and encouraging participation.
Design suitable exercises and group work
Interactive exercises (e.g. small-group work, case discussions, role plays, mapping exercises) that link theory to participants’ own party work.
Clear written instructions for each exercise, including purpose, expected outcomes and debriefing questions.
Where relevant, handouts or templates that can be printed or shared digitally.
It is not required that every part of the handbook is covered in the training. The consultant is expected to prioritise and highlight the most central and impactful elements of each module, in order to design a focused and effective 3-hour training session.
Expected deliverables
For each module included in the offer, the consultant shall deliver:
Training outline (session plan)
3-hour agenda with learning objectives, time allocation, methods and materials needed.
PowerPoint presentation
Editable slide deck in PowerPoint format, ready to be adapted and using Palme Center’s layout and templates.
Facilitator’s notes / script
Bullet-point notes or script linked to the session plan and slides, in Word or similar format.
Exercises and supporting materials
Written descriptions of exercises and group activities.
Any handouts, worksheets or templates needed for the session.
All materials shall be delivered in English and/or Spanish (the consultant may propose one language or both).
The Palme Center will be the sole owner of all materials produced under this assignment and may adapt and translate them for use with partners.
Methodology
The consultant is expected to propose a methodology that may include, for example:
Review of existing materials – in-depth reading of the selected handbook(s) and any related Palme Center resources.
Short consultation with relevant Palme Center staff to clarify expectations, target groups and contextual considerations.
Draft–feedback–finalisation cycle – submission of a draft version of the training package for comments, followed by a final version.
The proposed methodology should show how the consultant will:
Prioritise content from the handbook(s).
Ensure an engaging, participatory training design.
Make the material easy to use for trainers with different levels of experience.
Timeframe
The assignment is expected to follow this approximate timeline:
Deadline for submitting tenders (description and budget): Thursday 13 November
Notification of decision: Friday 14 November
Deadline for final training materials: Wednesday 26 November
The consultant may propose a more detailed schedule within this overall timeframe.
Requirements on the consultant
The consultant/consulting team should have:
Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training for adults, preferably in the areas of political party development, civil society strengthening or organisational development.
Strong skills in participatory and learner-centred methods.
Ability to transform written material (handbooks, manuals) into practical, time-bound training sessions.
Excellent written and spoken English; Spanish language skills are an asset if producing materials in Spanish.
Familiarity with international development cooperation, political parties and/or civil society organisations is considered an advantage.
Understanding of, or interest in, the values and traditions of the Swedish labour movement is meriting.
Language
The final materials shall be delivered in English and/or Spanish.
The tender (proposal) shall be submitted in English.
Budget and proposal content
The consultant is requested to submit a short concept note and cost estimate for one or both of the trainings (Module 1 and/or Module 5).
The tender should include:
Brief description of the training idea
How you propose to structure the 3-hour session(s).
Key methods and types of exercises you would use.
Any initial ideas on how to prioritise content from the handbook(s).
Financial proposal
Total cost for developing the full training package for:
Module 1 only;
Module 5 only;
or both modules (if applicable).
Indicate whether prices include VAT.
Information about the consultant/consulting team
Short description of relevant experience.
Links or examples of previous, similar assignments (if available).
Contact details of at least one reference (if available).
Submission and contact
Please submit your description of the training idea and cost estimate for one or both trainings no later than Thursday 13 November.
Email: otto.widmark@palmecenter.se
Questions and all communication related to this assignment should be directed to the contact person above.
Palmecentret söker praktikanter
Palmecentret arbetar i Olof Palmes anda för demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter och fred. Vi är den svenska arbetarrörelsens samarbetsorganisation för internationell solidaritet och opinionsbildning. Vi är en progressiv, varm och dynamisk arbetsplats som ger utrymme till stor autonomi i utförandet av arbetsuppgifter. Vi erbjuder goda möjlighet att vara med i arbetet med att påverka samhällsutvecklingen i Sverige och i våra samarbetsländer tillsammans med den svenska arbetarrörelsen och våra partners. Vårt huvudkontor ligger centralt beläget på Sveavägen 68 och tillsammans med våra 26 medlemsorganisationer bedriver vi varje år cirka 200 projekt i omkring 30 länder.
Vårterminen 2026: Palmecentret söker praktikanter till avdelningen för Policy och påverkan
Avdelningens uppdrag är att utveckla, samordna och implementera Palmecentrets policy-, kommunikations- och insamlingsarbete så att svensk arbetarrörelse tillsammans når ut, påverkar och modigt engagerar sig för internationell solidaritet och rättvisa i Olof Palmes anda.
Arbetarrörelsens idéer och värderingar inom demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter, social rättvisa, rättvis omställning och fred ska hållas högt på den politiska dagordningen i Sverige och utomlands.
Vi utvecklar våra strategier, metoder och kunskaper inom prioriterade policyområden.
Vi planerar, genomför och följer upp extern kommunikation, påverkansarbete och insamlingsaktiviteter.
Vi stöttar våra medlemsorganisationers internationella verksamhet att driva, finansiera och informera om gemensamma internationella projekt och aktiviteter.
Kvalifikationer:
Du ska ha praktik som en del av dina högskolestudier där en termins praktik ingår.
Ha stort intresse för internationella frågor, politik och kommunikation.
Gilla att formulera och kommunicera politiska ställningstaganden. Ha god språkkänsla.
Vana av/intresse för kommunikation via sociala medier och webb.
God förmåga att kommunicera i tal och skrift på både svenska och engelska.
Skicka din ansökan snarast, dock senast 16 november. Skicka ansökan (CV och personligt brev) till thomas.carlhed@palmecenter.se . Brevet ska vara författat på engelska.
Vi granskar ansökningar löpande och kan komma till att erbjuda praktikplats innan deadline.
För mer information kontakta Thomas Carlhed, avdelningschef, 0720 83 99 52.
Välkommen med din ansökan!
Terms of Reference – Mid-Term Evaluation for Civil Society Programme in Albania 2023-2027
The Olof Palme International Center Civil Society Programme in Albania 2023-2027
Background
The Olof Palme International Center (Palme Center) is the Swedish labour movement’s umbrella organisation for international solidarity and advocacy, working globally to promote democracy, human rights, peace, and social justice. We support progressive civil society organisations (CSOs), movements, and political parties to transform societies and improve people’s everyday lives.
The Palme Center has been active in the Western Balkans since 1995 and currently implements programmes in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
This evaluation focuses on the Civil Society Programme in Albania 2023-2027, titled ”Civil Society Programme for Participation, Accountability, and Social Change.” The programme is a continuation of previous periods and is aligned with the Swedish Government’s Result Strategy for the Western Balkans. The most recent evaluation of the work of the Palme Center in Albania is conducted in 2022. The programme 2023-2027 builds upon the recommendations provided in this evaluation.
The programme supports local CSOs and trade unions that foster active citizen participation in political, social, and economic life based on principles of human rights and social justice. Partners implement projects using methods such as popular education, trade union engagement, advocacy, and community organising as well as facilitating dialogue between diverse stakeholders and strengthening the social dialogue.
The programme ends in December 2027 and this mid-term evaluation will assess the programme’s effectiveness and impact for the period 2023 to mid-2025 and provide recommendations for its continuation.
The evaluation shall focus on results regarding the programme’s two main thematic areas:
socio-economic/ labour rights
citizen participation in decision-making processes at local level
Purpose of the Mid-Term Evaluation
The primary purpose of this mid-term evaluation is to:
Assess the effectiveness and impact of the Programme during 2023-mid 2025.
Identify strengths, weaknesses, and lessons learned thus far.
Provide actionable recommendations for the remainder of the programme and potential upcoming programming cycles.
The outcomes of the evaluation will be used as:
Documentation for reporting to Sida and other stakeholders.
Input for strategic planning and enhancing programme efficiency in Albania and Western Balkans when relevant.
Specific Objectives of the Evaluation
The evaluation will cover the Civil Society Programme in Albania from January 2023 to September 2025, focusing on:
The progress made against the programme’s goals and objectives in the two thematic areas;
Assessing the relevance, efficiency, and sustainability of the programme activities.
The impact of partnerships established within the programme, among local CSOs and trade unions, including the added value of collaboration with Swedish member organisations of the OPC.
Analysis of the factors that have contributed to or hindered the programme’s success?
Identification of outcomes, best practices, and recommendations for future adaptations.
The evaluation will be conducted in Albania, involving field visits, interviews, and data collection from programme partners, beneficiaries and stakeholders.
Methodology
The evaluation shall adhere to the OECD DAC Development Evaluation principles. The consultant(s) will:
Conduct a desk study of programme documents.
Perform field visits to interview Palme Center staff, partner organisations, rights holders, and other relevant stakeholders (e.g., Sida desk officers).
Assess the programme’s contribution to change using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Key evaluation questions include:
Relevance: To what extent does the programme address the needs and priorities of target groups in Albania?
Effectiveness: To what extent has the programme achieved its objectives and results by mid-2025? What changes or improvements are recommended for the remaining implementation period?
Impact: What evidence exists of a longer-term change process initiated by the programme?
Sustainability: Are the programme’s benefits likely to persist after 2025?
Efficiency: Has the programme utilized resources effectively to achieve its goals?
The Palme Center will provide relevant contact persons and documentation to support the evaluation process.
Timeline
The tentative timeline for the evaluation process is as follows:
October: Tender collection, deadline: October 5, 2025.
October 17: Contract signing and approval of the final work plan.
October, November, December : Evaluation commencement, including desk study and field visits in Albania.
January 11: Submission of the draft report.
January 25 : Submission of the final report and presentation workshop with Palme Center staff and Sida.
The exact dates will be finalized in consultation with the selected consultant(s).
Deliverables and Reporting
The consultant(s) shall deliver:
Inception Report: A work plan and detailed methodology, to be presented and discussed at a start-up meeting with the Palme Center (due late October 5, 2025).
Draft Report: Submitted by January 11, allowing one weeks for Palme Center feedback on factual errors or standards.
Final Report: Not exceeding 30 pages (excluding appendices), due by January, 25 including:
Index
Executive Summary
Background
Purpose and Scope
Methodology and Limitations
Observations and Analysis
Conclusions
Recommendations (prioritized by perceived importance)
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